The European Commission has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties of up to 25,2 % on SSCR imports from PR China and up to 12,0 % on imports from Taiwan, following the complaint which was filed by EUROFER in May 2014.The Commission’s investigations have confirmed that imports of SSCR from China and Taiwan were sold at dumped prices and caused significant injury to the EU stainless steel industry.

Imports in volume from China and Taiwan grew by 70 % between 2010 and 2013 and their market share in the Community market increased by 64 % in the same period. With an average EU price undercutting of 10,5 % the increasing dumped imports from China and Taiwan did not allow the EU industry to maintain its market share or become profitable. Further, the pressure from these imports worsened dramatically in 2014 with a volume growth in excess of 200 % and a market share expansion of 180 % vs. 2010. “This surge of imports bears no relation with the evolution of the EU market consumption. The root of the problem resides in the huge capacities that have been built in China. They largely exceed local consumption growth and cannot be absorbed domestically. Taiwan has also a structural over-capacity problem. In recent years, the EU stainless steel industry has made painful efforts to restructure, to reduce over-capacities, to improve its performance and to maintain world benchmark competitiveness. But at the same time, China has been subsidizing the expansion of its stainless steel industry which is now flooding the global market and displacing trade flows. It is not admissible that our efforts be taken away by a surge of unfair imports” says EUROFER Director General Axel Eggert.

Since the 14th August 2014, the European Commission is also conducting an anti-subsidy investigation against SSCR imports from China and the provisional results should be made known in two months‘ time.

“We welcome that the new Commission is taking action to remedy unfair trade practices. EUROFER has always claimed that ensuring fair conditions of competition at international level must be part of the new EU industrial policy framework. The imposition of these remedial measures by the Commission will not limit competition on the EU market. Indeed, in addition to sales by EU producers, who have enough capacities and can provide the full range of products, there is abundance of offer from other non-EU countries not subject to trade measures. China and Taiwan will also be able to continue supplying customers when selling at non-injurious conditions.” adds Eggert.

Steel is 100 % recyclable, over and over again, without loss of its unique properties – a permanent material for today´s and future generations. STEEL MADE IN EUROPE is essential. The EU steel industry plays a vital role in many of Europe´s strategic supply chains. It offers value added products and services developed in close cooperation with its customers to create a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world. EUROFER, the European Steel Association, represents almost 100 percent of steel made in Europe, combining a turnover of approximately €166 billion – a share of 1.3 percent in the EU’s GDP. At more than 500 steel production and processing sites in 24 EU member states we provide direct employment for 335 thousand people and indirect employment for millions of European citizens.